Town 'has waited long enough' for health centre

A council has recommitted to delivering a town's new health centre by autumn 2028 as members said residents had "waited long enough".

Staffordshire County Council said plans for the site in Burntwood, Staffordshire, could be submitted this summer, after a public consultation ended on 14 May.

Initial proposals for the delayed project included consulting rooms, treatment facilities and a large waiting area.

A care home and sports pitches have also been earmarked for the same development site, located off Milestone Way.

At a recent county council meeting, Etching Hill and The Heath councillor, Jon Pendleton, asked how the scheme was progressing following the consultation.

Robin Hall, the authority's cabinet member for economy and skills, said it had been talked about for 16 years and claimed there was no plan in place when he took over the role.

"I made it my priority on day one," he added. "Now we've got momentum, we've got plans, consultations are being done and it's about to go to planning.

"The people of Burntwood are right, they've waited long enough."

Hall's comments came after Lichfield District Council's Rob Strachan raised concerns about the project and questioned whether the authority's funding contribution could be withdrawn.

Strachan said £1.15m, made up of community infrastructure levies, could be redirected to other projects unless those in charge of delivering the health centre "get on with it".

In April, Sean Bagguley, Staffordshire County Council's cabinet member for finance and resources, said the authority was "moving as quickly" as it could.

"Despite the urgency to deliver this much-anticipated community asset, it's important we follow the correct process," he added.

The planning application for the development is being prepared by the council on behalf of the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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